Time-controlled mechanism



Nov. =24.- 1925.. 1,562,537

, F. J. BLUM, SR

TIME CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed Dec. 14, 1922 AAlAAAAAAAAlAllALl NV EN F[]F? FREDERICK J- EhLLJM 5R. Mew a2,

, ATTYEJ.

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

inert-tn 5T TES FREDERICK JAMES BL'U'M, SR., OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

'IIIVIE-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed December 14, 1922. Serial No. 606,799.

To (I /l i l/[02M 4/ may comer Be it known that: l, Freetown: J. BLUM, 551:, a citizen of the l nitcd States, residing at Oak Park, in the county t Cool: and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful TllllG-COlltlOllQd Mechanism, out which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to time controlled mechanisms and is herein disclosed in connection with a valve for controlling the flow of to a hot water heater or the like to permit the operation of the heater during a predetermined period of time.

One of the nincipal objects of the invention to provide a novel form of automatic control clock embodying means for starting and stopping the clock in the operations of the valve or other dev ce in connection with which the clock is us d.

.trnother object is m provide means capable ot use in clock mechanisms of standard construction tor providing an automatic time control.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and improved form of controlling mechanism for a alve or the like which capable of adjusti'nent in various degrees to enable the operation thereof by the sligl'it force exerted by a clock mechanism in operation.

Another object to provide a unitary control device tor hot water heaters or the like comprising a control clock. and mechanisn' arranged for manual setting to be actuated at a predetermined future time by the clock,

the said clock and mechanism being coinpactly arranged and ot a simple and economical term which not apt to get out of order and require trequent attention.

'lhese and other objects of the invention will be made to appear in the following detailed descriptitm in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing torus part hereof. in the drawiiig, Figure 1 is a 'i'ront view of n ci'introl mechanism for a hot water heater embodying the features ot my invention, the same being shown in a set position with certain POllllOIlS broken away to disclose the internal construction and arrangement thereot. Fig. 9 is a similnr view showing the mechanism after the predetermined time has arrived for which the device was set. Fig. 3 is arear view oi the mechanism showing the valve which controls the flow 0t gas to the hot water heater and is arranged for timed operation. Fig. t is an elevational detail of the control clock showing the positions of the respective parts when the same is set. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the respective positions 01'? the parts in off position after the predetermined time has arrived for which the clock was set. Fig. 6 is a side view of the clock shown in Fig. l: and illustrating the relation of the parts thereof. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on the line 7-T of Fig. 6 showing a novel means which I employ in the clock to start and stop it at the time of setting and going off respectively; the parts being shown in off position, that is, after the stopping of the clock. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the parts in operative position, that is, after the starting of the clock. llhroughout the views the same reference numerals are applied to the same parts.

Referring to the drawing and, for the present, particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a. control for a hot water heater. The pipes 10 and the valve 11 shown are connected in part of the gas line for the heater. The valve 11 is secured suitably by means oi? cleats 12 to the back of the casing 13 with its stem 1% extending therein to be operated. An arm 15 is fitted over the squared inner end oi? the stem 1d and is arranged in its swinging movements to turn the valve open or closed. A toggle is provided for operating the arm 15 comprising a pair of toggle lovers 16 and 17 pivotally connected at 15?, the lever 16 being pivoted upon a pin 19 and having an extension 20 projecting through an opening 21 in the side wall ot the cas 1g and forming a linger piece arranged to he manually operated, while the lever 17 is pivotally connected to the arm 15 at 2: 5 whereby the valve 11 is arranged to be operated by the manual operation of the extension 20. When the toggle levers 16 an d 17 are moved into aligned relation as shown in Fig. 1, the valve 11 is open, and when these levers are in the relation shown in Fig. 2, the valve is closed. The lever 17 has n lug' 23 thereon arranged in the closed posi tion of the valve to engage a bumper 24.. provided on the bottom wall of the casing which serves to cushion the toggle when the levers thereof are swung out of aligned relation. A ledge 25 on the lever 17 is arranged directly over the pivotal connection 18 between the levers 16 and 17, and when the levers are in aligned relatlon, th s ledge is engaged by a push pm 26 extend ng through n 'v a boss 26 pro ecting from the rear wall of the casing. The push pin 26 extends from,

the clock con'ipartment 27 and is arranged to be engaged upon its headed upper end-28 by the free end of a lever 29, the operation of which is controlled by the clock 30 in a manner hereinafter described.

In view of the fact that the lever 29 must be operated by the clock which is capable only of exerting a rather slight pressure thereon, the control mechanism for the valve 11 must necessarily be quite sensitive. The levers 16 and 17 when moved into aligned relation as shown in Fig. l extend the tension spring 31 acting between the pivot 22 and a pin 32 projecting from the rear wall of the casing. This spring is arranged to exert a force substantially endwise of the levers 16 and 17 when in aligned relation so that the same are prevented from movement out of aligned relation practically only by the friction between them or in their mountings. The moment the aligned relation of the levers is disturbed the spring 31 in contracting forcibly swings the arm 15 to the position shown in Fig. 2, closing the valve 11. lVith the levers 16 and 17 in aligned relation the spring 31 in extended condition is disposed approximately on a line which would serve as a diagonal of a parallelogram assuming that one were drawn having as two of its adjacent sides the arm 15 and the aligned levers 16 and 17. By virtue of this arrangement the spring exerts endwise pressure both upon the arm 15 and upon the levers 16 and 17.

in aligned relation so that there is very little resistance to the movement of the levers 16 and 17 out of alinement. Consequently, slight pressure upon the push pin 26 is sufficient to disrupt the toggle.

The extent of movement at dead center, that is, with the levers 16 and 17 in aligned relation, which is necessary to disrupt the toggle, is adjustable by means of a screw extending through the boss 26 alongside the push pin 26. A suitable lock nut 34 is provided for the screw 33 to make an adjustment thereof permanent. It will thus appear that the device may be made more or less sensitive by this adjustment so that the slightest pressure exerted by a clock'mech anism is sutlicient to actuate the toggle to operate the valve.

The casing 13 is suitably.provided with a removable cover plate 35 held by screws 36 which, when removed, permits access to the control mechanism therein for thepurposes of adjustment or inspection. Also, the casing is preferably provided with athreaded hollow neck 37 and an internally thradcd aportured lug 38 by means of both or either of which the device maybe mounted upon or ad acent a hot water heater.

'Where convenient, however, the same may be supported simply by the pipes 10 forming a part of the gas line for the heater.

The clock 30 housedin the compartment 27 and arranged to time the operation of the valve 11 may be of any standard construction. One standard form is shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, and comprises the usual front and rear frames 35) and a0 spaced by pillars all. The dial 42 (removed in Figs. a to 6) is supported from the front frame 39 by pillars 43 in the usual manner and in the present case is provided with numerals 0, 5, 10, 15, etc., up to 60, having reference to the number of minutes for which the clock may be set, in order to secure the operation of a heater or other device for a predetermined desired period of time to be shut off or put outv of operation upon the lapse of such time. Hands fll and 45, which are respectively the minute and hour hands of the clock, move in the usual manner with respect to the dial 4-2 and are arranged to be set in the usual way by the central stem 16 extending from the rear of the clock. The hands 4-1 and l-5 will be set at a point designating the number of minutes which it is desired to have the heater or other device which is to be controlled operate, as, for example, ten or fitteen minutes, or any other suitable period of time. The stem 16 constitutes what is generally termed the mandrel of the clock and carries upon it the usual hour wheel 47 and a pinion et8 which drives, the usual minute wheel 49. I provide on the minute wheel 49 a projection in the form of a pin 50 which in the setting of the hand 44: relative to the hand 4:5 is moved to a certain position in spaced relation to a finger 51 projectingfrom the side of a link The latter; operates the lever 29 about a pivot point 53, which preferably is provided by one of the pillars a3. A pivot pin 5-l serves to connect the link 52 and lever 29. It will be understood that the lever 29 and the link 52 and the parts connected therewith to be operated thereby are special and are provided merely to adapt a clock of standard construction to the purpose of automatically controlling a valve or other device. The link and lever and parts associated therewith are arranged to be actuated in the operation of the clock mechanism and, as will be presently described, are further adapted to effect the starting of the clock mechanism upon the setting of the valve or other de vice in operative position and to effect the stopping of the clock at the time the valv, or other device is operated to inoperative position. The link 52 is guided by one of the pillars 43 which extends through a slot provided in the link. In the relative positions of the link 52 and lever 29 shown in Fig. at the control mechanism for the valve 11 is in the tense condition illustrated in Fig. 1. After the pin 50 has moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l at which it engages the linger 51 and has moved past this position to the full position shown in Fig. 5, the linlr 52 is moved. upwardly thus swinging the lever 29 downwardly and operating the push pin 26 against the ledge to move the lovers 16 and 17 out of aligned relation causing them to assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 under the action of the spring 31.

A coiled tension spring 56 is connected to one of the pillars 41 arranged in spaced relation to the pivot pin and is suitably connected upon a yoke 57 pivotally mounted on the pin 5 1, the spring serving normally to urge the free end of the lever 29 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. As previously described, the levers 16 and .17 when in aligned relation are so held practically only by the friction between them or in their mountings, so that only slight re sistance must be overcome to move the same out of aligned relation. The spring 56 in urging the lever 29 downwardly normally to push the pin 26 against the ledge 25 over the pivot pin 18 ot the levers 1(3 and 17 serves in a measure to counterbalance the factor ot 'lriction. In this way the pin 50 moving gradually with the wheel 49 meets with practically no resistance in moving the link to o ierate the lever 29 to push the pin 26 in throwii'ig the toggle as aforesaid. In this way the danger of stopping the clock because of too much resistance being brought to its movement is avoided.

The means for starting and stopping the clock mechanism comprises a dog 59 arranged to operate in connection with the usual seconds wheel (50 vforming a part 01 the transmissioi'i reduction train between the driving means usually consisting of a coiled spring wound by means of a key (31 or the like, and the escapement which usually comprises a balance wheel 62. The wheel has rigid therewith a pinion (53 which may be driven from the center wheel of the clock. Standard clock constructions are so generally known and understood that it is not deemed necessary to go further into the details thereof than to illustrate the parts thereof with which the mechanism of the present invention concerned. The dog 59 is slotted as shown at Gl to fit over the inner end of the pin and has a toe piece (3 against which a lug 66 on the yoke 57 is arranged to engage normally to swing the dog 59 in a conliter-clockwise direction toward the wheel 60. When the valve 11 is closed the lever 29 is, as aforesaid. in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 5. In such position the dog 59 engages between the teeth cl the wheel 60. In the movement of the lever 29 downwardly by virtue of the movement oi the pin 50 in the operation of the clock, the dog 59 is brought upwardly with the pivot pin 5 1 and is arranged to engage in "pushes the pin upwardly and swings the lever 29 about its plvot 53 and thereby u swings the pivot pin 5 ldownwardly. In this movement the dog 59 having lost motion connection with the lever 29 by virtue of the slot (i l remains in engagement between the teeth of the wheel 60 despite the fact that the yoke 57' is moved approximately to the dotted line position shown in lg. 7. The yoke 57 is thereby turned slightly about the pin causing the lug (56 under the tension oi spring 56 to press against the toe piece (35 of the dog 59 and urge the same downwardly substantially tangentially so that the wheel (30 is turned yieldingly to start the clock escapement through its initial movements, The wheel (30 is selected as the one for this purpose be cause of its close proximity to the clock escapement which makes it susceptible to movement by slight pressure. This will be understood since the wheel 60 is practically at the extreme end of the reduction train between the driving means of the clock and the eseapement. The dog 59 remains in e11- gagement between the teeth of the wheel 60 until the toe piece 65 01. the dog 59 in its downward movement engages an adjacent pillar 11 ot' the clock mechanism thereby swinging the dog 59 in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin out from engagement between the teeth of the wheel (it). The clock mechanism proceeds in its operation or the period determined. by the setting oi the hands oi the clock, in which setting the pin is set in a certain spaced relation to the linger 51 ot the link 52. The pin 50 moving gradually with the wheel 4L9 engages the linger 51 at the PlOClQtOlHllDGCl future time and causes the movement of the lever- 29 downwardly to disrupt the toggle and etlect the closing of the valve 11 in the manner aforesaid. In this movement the dog 59 is again brought upwardly and caused to engage in between the teeth of the wheel 60 to stop the same and thereby prevent further escape-ment movements of the clock.

The operation or the device is practically apparent from the foregoing description. The clock is set, say for a fifteen-minute period of operation as shown in Fig. .1. by setting the minute hand hi adjacent the numeral 15 on the clock dial 4% and moving the extension 20 downwardly to start the clock operating and to open. the valve 11 simultaneously. The valve when open permits the flow of gas to the heater controlled by the mechanism. The heater may, if desired, have a pilot light to ignite the gas as soon as it starts to flow or else the same may be set off by a match at the same time that the extension 20 is drawn down. At the predetermined future time the pin 50 in the manner above described causes the actuation of the lever 29 to throw the levers 16 and 17 out of aligned relation and thereby effect the closing of the valve 11. Practically simultaneously with the closing of the valve, the clock mechanism is put out of operation in the manner aforesaid.

From the foregoing description, it will appear that I have provided a serviceable, economical and compact device of this character which is capable of adjustment to be very sensitive for operation and with which a clock mechanism of standard construction may be used. It will also appear that considerable modification in the construction and arrangement of various parts of the device may be made without departing materially from the spirit of the invention. In the appended claims it is therefore the endeavorto comprehend all legitimate modifications and adaptations of the invention which would occur to one skilled in this art.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination in a time controlled mechanism of the character described, of a device having parts arranged to be set in dead center relation and under tension to be sprung by light pressure thereagainst, said parts being prevented from arring or falling from dead center largely by friction between or in the mounting of the parts, an actuating arm for said device adapted to throw said parts out of dead center relation, spring means normally urging the same toward operative engagement with said. parts for this purpose, said spring being adapted substantially to balance the resistance afforded by the friction which tends to hold said parts in dead center relation whereby to make for sensitiveness in the operation thereof, and a clock operated member for moving said arm ,with slight pressure to throw said parts from dead center.

2. The combination in a time controlled mechanism of the character described, of a device having parts arranged to be set in a dead center relation and under tension to be sprung by light pressure thereagainst, said parts being prevented from jarring or falling, from dead center largely by friction between or in the mounting of the parts, an actuating arm for said device adapted to throw said parts out of dead center relation,

spring means normally urging the same toward operative engagement with said parts for this purpose, said spring being adapted substantially to balance the resistance afforded by the friction which tends to hold said parts in dead center relation whereby to make for sensitiveness in the operation thereof, a clock operated member for moving said arm with slight pressure to throw said parts from dead center, and means for adjusting the sensitiveness of the device.

3. The combination in a time controlled mechanism of the character described, of a device having parts arranged to be set approximately in dead center position, means for yieldingly holding said parts in said position, an actuating arm for throwing said parts out of said position, a clock operated member for moving said arm to throw said parts from said position, and means for adjusting the extent of movement of said parts at dead center position through which said member must operate the same to throw them out of dead center position.

4. In a mechanism of the character de scribed, a casing, a stem extending therein associated with a valve or the like to be controlled, a toggle connected to said stem for turning thesame adapted to be set in a distorted tense position to be sprung at a predetermined future time when the position of the valve or the like is to be changed, a push pin extending in said casing to a point adjacent the pivotal connection of the arms of said toggle when in tense position, clock operated means for moving said pin a suflicient distance to throw the toggle, and an adjustment for varying the extent of movement required by the pin to throw the toggle whereby to render the device more or less sensitive as desired.

In a mechanism of the character described, a casing having a clock compartment, a clock therein, a valve or the like carried by said casing to be controlled there by, a pair of pivotally connected toggle lovers in said casing, an arm for turning said valve, one of said levers being pivotally connected to said arm and the other having an extension projecting from said casing for manual operation to swing said levers into aligned relation to operate said valve in one direction, a spring holding said levers tensely in aligned relation adapted normally to move said arm to operate said valve in the opposite direction, 'a push pin extending,

from said clock compartment to a point adjacent the connection between said levers when in aligned relation, and clock operated means for moving said pin to move said levers out of alineinent whereby to permit said spring to move said arm and thereby operate the valve.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a casing having a clock compartment, a clock herein, a valve or the like carried said casing to be controlled thereby, a pair of pivotally connected toggle levers in said casing, an arm for turning said valve, one said levers being pivotally conncetedv to said arm and the other having an extension projecting; from said. casing for manual operation to swing said levers into aligned relation to operate said valve in one direction, a spring]; holding said levers tensel in aligned relation adapted normally to more said arm to operate said valve in the pposite direction, a push pin extending from said clock compartment to a point adjacent the connection between said levers when in aligned relation, clock operated means for moving said pin to move said levers out of alignment whereby to permit said spring to move said arm and thereby operate the valve, and an adjusting screw situated along ide said. pin and adjustable toward and away from the connection between said. levers to vary the extent of movement thereof required in throwing the same out of alinement whereby to render the device more or less sensitive as desired.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a casing having a clock compartmcnt, a clock therein, a valve or the like to he controllel thereby, a pair of pivotally connected toggle levers, an arm for turning said va .re, one oi said levers being pivotally nnecled to said arm and the other having an extension projecting from the casing to be operated manually to swing the levers substantially into aligned relation to move the valve in one direction, a spring holding said tensely in aligned relation adapted normally to move said arm to move the valve in the opposite direction, a push pin extending from said clock compartment to a point adjacent the connection between said levers, the said levers when in aligned relation resisting movement out of alinement practically only by the :triction be tween or in the mountings of the levers, a clock operated member for moving said pin to move said levers out of alineinent whereby to permit the spring to move the arm and thereby operate the valve, and a spring normally tending to move the clock operated member to move said levers out o'lf alinement, said spring being arranged to sub stantially counterbalance the factor of friction resisting the movement of said levers out off alinement.

8 In a mechanism or the character de scribed, a, stem associated with a valve or the like to be controlled, an arm for turning the same, a pair of pivotally connected togglc levers, one of said levers being pivotally connected to said arm and the other having an extension for manual. operation to move said levers approximately into alineinent in a tense position when the valve is operated one way to be subsequently moved out of alinement when said valve is to be oper ated the opposite way, said levers in alineinent forming an angle with said arm, a tension spring for holding said levers in tense aligned relation whereby the same are adapted when pressed against to be sprung under the action of said spring to operate said valve, and. a clock operated means for throwing the lovers out of alinement, said. spring being positioned with respect to said arm and said levers in aligned relation substantially on line forming the diagonal of a parallelogram assun'ling that one were to be completed having as two of its adjacent sides the two aligned levers and the arm, respectively.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto allixed my signature.

FREDERICK J AMES BL'UM, Sn, 

